This is a great video from NJN Public Television about Bruxism and it’s effects on sufferers. It shows a dentist diagnosing Bruxism and fitting a teeth guard.

How do you feel about heavy breathers? What about if I were to suggest that you become one! Ok, maybe not a heavy breather, but certainly a depth breather.

Deep breathing techniques have been shown to relax the mind and relieve muscle tension. When you lay down at night (on your back… see Tip 4) practice taking some deep breathes, hold and breathe out.

Just a few of these exercises can have you sleeping like a baby and reduce your teeth grinding in no time.

If you try this and see any success we’d love to know about it. Post a comment and give us the details of your success.

James…

In a recent interview with ex-president of the Minnesota Dental Association, Kimberley Harms DDS, WebMD asked about the myths and facts surrounding cavities.

Harms, the consumer advisor to the American Dental Association, came up with a list of 15 things you should know. Reading through the list, you will notice that of the 15 items, a full 20% are Bruxism related.

I’ve reproduced the relevant items below and you can read the full article here.

10. Chips and cracks in teeth lead to decay

Fact. If cracks and chips create a hiding place for bacteria, a spot where your toothbrush can’t reach, those areas are more prone to tooth decay.

“Lately we’re seeing more and more cracks in teeth because people are grinding,” Harms says. “Stress, worries about the economy, it makes some people grind their teeth more. … Stress can play an important role in tooth health.”

12. Cavities are the prime reason for root canals

Myth. You need a root canal if the nerve inside a tooth is damaged. Untreated cavities may eventually lead to nerve damage, but there other causes, too.

“Cracks, fractures, or other types of trauma to the tooth can also cause nerve damage,” Harms says. In many cases “clenching and grinding can traumatize the tooth severely enough to need root canal therapy.”

13. Clenching and grinding leads to cavities

Myth and sometimes fact. “Teeth clenching and teeth grinding is one of the most destructive things you can do to your teeth,” says Harms. With normal chewing, teeth touch for mere milliseconds, suffering very little stress. But clenching and grinding puts tremendous pressure on your teeth for extended periods.

That strain “can eventually cause damage and cracks and fractures of your teeth,” says Harms. If those fractures expose the weaker dentin, tooth decay can form at a faster rate. “Typically grinding and clenching lead to the need for crowns to restore the fractured tooth or root canal therapy to treat the traumatized nerve.”